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Biomedical subjects

L Månsson

Publications and source records attributed to L Månsson.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Developmental expression of DCC in the rat retina.

The protein product of the deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene possesses netrin-binding activity and may be involved in axonal guidance during retinal development. The temporal and spatial expression of DCC was analyzed in developing rat retina by means of immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry as well as by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Transient DCC protein expression is evident on ganglion cell axons in embryonic and neonatal retina. Double labeling experiments demonstrate DCC immunolabeling on processes that stratify in the inner plexiform layer and are derived from cholinergic amacrine cells. This pattern is maintained during the early postnatal period. DCC immunolabeling in the inner plexiform layer declines with age and is not observed in adult retina. The down-regulation of the DCC protein is confirmed by Western blot analysis. mRNA for DCC is expressed in embryonic, postnatal and adult retina and shows no correlation with the protein down-regulation. We suggest that DCC expression may be correlated with the functional segregation of the inner plexiform layer.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Incontinence aids in Sweden: users and costs.

OBJECTIVE: To study age- and sex-specific use and costs of incontinence aids distributed free of charge in Sweden. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the county of Jämtland, Sweden (132,000 inhabitants). The use and cost of incontinence aids for people living in their homes and the total cost of incontinence aids for residents of special accommodation (e.g. nursing homes, homes for the elderly and sheltered housing) was obtained from a central database constructed for the purpose. Individual usage of incontinence aids by those in special accommodation was studied in two districts of Jämtland, representing 18% of the population. RESULTS: Free incontinence products were used by 6.4% of all women and 2.4% of all men in the county. There was a sharp increase in usage from the age of 75 years. Of the users, 21% lived in special accommodation. If the data from Jämtland are extrapolated nationally, then 274,000 women and 93,000 men in Sweden (total population 8.8 million) are using free incontinence products. The total cost of incontinence aids for Jämtland during 1999 was 15.4 million Swedish krona (SK), and those in special accommodation accounted for 46% of these costs. This corresponds to an estimated total cost in Sweden of approximately 925 million SK. Although 75% of the users were women, women only contributed 61% of the total costs. The mean annual cost of incontinence aids for an incontinent man was twice that of an incontinent woman. More than half of the costs were attributable to those aged >or=80 years. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated national costs of free incontinence aids accounts for 0.5% of the total costs of Swedish healthcare, including the care and nursing of older and disabled people, and for 0.05% of the gross national product.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Islet cell antibodies represent autoimmune response against several antigens.

To study the antigens involved in the islet cell antibody (ICA) reaction we selected 30 patient serum samples (ten in each group) positive for ICA and one other additional autoantibody, such as glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA), thyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA-2A) or insulin autoantibodies (IAA). The serum samples were incubated with the specific antigen (GAD65, IA-2 or insulin) and the ICA analysis and the corresponding immunoprecipitation assay were performed before and after the absorption. We could then demonstrate that specific autoantibodies against GAD65 and IA-2 could be absorbed with the corresponding antigen, since ten GADA positive and six IA-2A samples turned completely negative. However, the ICA reaction after absorption with GADA, IA-2A and insulin was still present, although at significantly lower levels. The results strongly indicate that the ICA reaction represents simultaneous autoimmunity against several other antigens beside GAD65, IA-2 and insulin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Protection of dehydrated chicken meat by natural antioxidants as evaluated by electron spin resonance spectrometry.

Dehydrated chicken meat (a(w) = 0.20-0.35) made from mechanically deboned chicken necks can be protected against oxidative deterioration during storage by rosemary extract (at a sensory acceptable level of 1000 ppm, incorporated prior to drying). The efficiency of the rosemary extract was similar to that obtained by synthetic antioxidants in a reference product (70 ppm butylated hydroxyanisole and 70 ppm octyl gallate). Tea extract and coffee extract were less efficient than rosemary and synthetic antioxidants. Among the natural antioxidants tested, grape skin extract provided the least protection against oxidative changes in dehydrated chicken meat. Radicals in the product, quantified by direct measurement by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry, developed similarly to headspace ethane, pentane, and hexanal, and to oxygen depletion both in unprotected and protected products. The ESR signal intensity and headspace hexanal both correlated with the sensory descriptor "rancidity" as evaluated by a trained sensory panel. Hexanal, as a secondary lipid oxidation product, showed an exponential dependence on the level of radicals in the product in agreement with a chain reaction mechanism for autoxidation, and direct ESR measurement may be used in quality control of dehydrated food products.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Spatial memory and stereotypic behaviour of animals in radial arm mazes.

The symmetric radial arm maze, described by Olton in 1976, has developed into an important tool for the study of spatial memory. In a typical test an animal is placed in the centre of the maze, which contains some small piece of food at the end of each arm. The sampling behaviour of the animal is then recorded. In such studies the score (number of choices of arms which still contain food) of the animal is normally compared with the score of an imaginary animal which changes arms entirely at random. In a new method of analysis the non-random score of the animal is split into two parts, one depending on memory and one on stereotypic choice behaviour. Even mild departures from randomness are shown to alter considerably the expected 'random' score in an eight-armed maze. The part of the score claimed to depend on memory was shown to increase when the animals learn to search the maze, the stereotypic part did not. The general effect from stereotypic choice behaviour is shown to result, in most animals, in an increase in the total score. In an eight-armed maze this increase may amount to more than 20% of the total non-random score, even in a well-trained animal. The effect is less pronounced in mazes with 16 arms. It has been proposed that hippocampal lesions produce a stereotypic behaviour. We propose, based on our analysis, that the stereotypic behaviour is not produced but revealed by hippocampal lesions which destroy almost completely the memory-guided behaviour masking the stereotypic behaviour in the intact animal.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Tolerance during inhalation of organic solvents.

Inhalation of several different halogenated solvents stimulated motor activity in mice. During prolonged exposure acute tolerance developed. The development of tolerance depended both on the schedule of exposure, and on the solvent. Exposure to trichloroethylene induced both stimulation and tolerance while the same degree of stimulation induced by 1,1,1-trichloroethane caused no tolerance. Thus the mechanisms which induce stimulation do not always initiate tolerance. Slow steady increases in the concentration of trichloroethylene could be maintained for several hours without any stimulation of motor activity. At the end of such exposures concentrations were reached which, if applied directly, would have induced considerable stimulation. Thus tolerance may develop without motor stimulation. Inhalation of ethanol also stimulated motor activity initially. During constant exposure the stimulation was followed by a considerable reduction in motor activity. This resulted in a hypoactive period, which in turn was followed by a second increase in motor activity, indicating the existence of not only two but several counteracting mechanisms. Development of metabolites with sedative effects counteracting the stimulating effect of the pure solvents seems to be one explanation for the results.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1985

Effects of organic solvents on motor activity in mice.

Groups of male mice were exposed via inhalation to methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, toluene, trichloroethylene or 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The exposures were started at 2300 h. Generation of vapor was stopped after 1 h. Motor activity of the animals during the exposures was measured with a Doppler radar. Several concentrations of each solvent were tested. Concentrations could be found for all solvents at which they initially increased the motor activity. When the generation of vapor was terminated and the concentration started to decline, a new phase of changes in motor activity was induced. At this phase, motor activity was in most cases influence in the opposite direction to that at the beginning of the exposure. Trichloroethylene concentrations could be found which gave no increase in activity at the start of exposure but a prominent decrease at termination. The lowest concentration at which effects could be seen was different for the different solvents. Perchloroethylene was more and 1,1,1-trichloroethane less potent than the other solvents in inducing motor activity. The time pattern of the motor activity alterations was specific for each solvent. Both the concentration and the rate of the concentration increase were responsible for the effects on motor activity. The differences between the solvents probably reflect differences in their site of action, their distribution and their biotransformation.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1984

Perchloroethylene: effects on body and organ weights and plasma butyrylcholinesterase activity in mice.

The effects of continuous and intermittent inhalation of perchloroethylene (PCE) on plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity, organ weights, liver morphology and motor activity in mice (strain NMRI) were tested. PCE exposure increased plasma BuChE activity in a time- and concentration dependent manner in both sexes. The increase was statistically significant at 37 p.p.m. in animals continuously exposed for 30 days. BuChE increased approximately 1.5 times in females and 2.5 times in males after 120 days exposure to 150 p.p.m. After rehabilitation of animals exposed for 30 days to 150 p.p.m., BuChE levels returned to normal. Liver weight also increased in a time and concentration dependent manner. Both sexes exhibited significant liver enlargement at 9 p.p.m. The increase was about 2.3 in females and 1.9 in males after continuous exposure to 150 p.p.m. for 120 days. After rehabilitation (120 days) of animals exposed to 150 p.p.m. for 30 days, a 10% increase still remained. A decrease in body weight gain was seen in both sexes after exposure to concentrations above 75 p.p.m. Female kidney weight was slightly increased. No clear effect on spleen weight could be detected. When the same time-weighted average concentration was used, intermittent exposure for 30 days had similar effects on liver weight and BuChE activity as continuous exposure, even when exposures lasted for only one hour per day. Liver cell morphology was changed after PCE exposure. The alterations could be observed already at 9 p.p.m. but disappeared after rehabilitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Trichloroethylene: further studies of the effects on body and organ weights and plasma butyrylcholinesterase activity in mice.

The effects of continuous and intermittent inhalation of trichloroethylene (TCE) were studied in male and female mice. Plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity, body, liver, kidney and spleen weights were measured. The liver was studied histologically and motor activity measured with doppler radar. Continuous TCE-exposure (37-300 p.p.m.) increased plasma BuChE activity in the males in a time and concentration dependent manner. After 30 days at 37 p.p.m. the increase was about 25%. Exposure to 300 p.p.m. for 30 days increased the activity three times. BuChE activity in females was only slightly influenced even at 300 p.p.m. Liver weight was increased in a time and concentration dependent manner in both sexes. In animals continuously exposed for 30 days to 300 p.p.m., liver weight was roughly twice that of the air-exposed controls. Morphological changes were observed in the liver of TCE-exposed animals. Above 150 p.p.m. kidney weight in both sexes was significantly increased. This effect was more pronounced in the males than in the females. Spleen weight was not influenced by the exposure. Body weight increase was slightly lower in exposed animals. Plasma BuChE activity and liver weight returned to normal when exposure was terminated. Intermittent exposure to short pulses of high concentration of TCE had roughly the same effect on BuChE, body and organ weights as continuous exposure to the same time-weighted average. Motor activity was affected by the intermittent exposure schedules. At 900 p.p.m. decrease in activity was observed. At 3600 p.p.m. motor activity was considerably increased.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Interocclusal distance measurement comparing chin and tooth reference points.

In a group of nine dentate students with a mean age of 23.1 years, a comparison of their interocclusal distances was determined using tooth and chin reference points. This determination was made with two reference LEDs, one attached to a lower tooth and the other attached to a point on the chin. These two LEDs were registered simultaneously using the Selspot system and analyzed with the use of a computer. Three different methods were used to establish the interocclusal distance: a phonetic method, a relaxation method, and a swallowing method. Independent of the method selected, there was a greater interocclusal distance recorded by the tooth-attached reference LED. This study indicates that, in the clinical determination of interocclusal distance, where a chin reference is used the dentist should be aware of this difference--especially when lip activity is involved.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Sensitivity of Mongolian gerbils to trichloroethylene exposure during neonatal growth.

Continuous exposure of young mongolian gerbils to trichloroethylene (230 ppm) was started at different times during the first month of life. The onset of exposure was accompanied by an increased number of deaths among the pups and by an immediate reduction in growth rate. The proportion of dead pups was greatest when exposure was started at birth, and decreased rapidly with increasing age at onset of exposure. Growth rate was partially restored approx. 1 week after the onset of exposure. After weaning the effect of the exposure on growth decreased, and the variation in the effect among different litters was considerably reduced. The enhanced sensitivity of the pups to trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure is believed to be due to a disturbance in the mother-offspring relationship.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Trichloroethylene: effects on body and organ weights in mice, rats and gerbils.

The influence of continuous inhalation of 150 ppm trichloroethylene (TCE) on body, liver, spleen, and kidney weights in rats, mice, and mongolian gerbils was tested. An age dependent decrease in body weight gain was observed in female rats exposed to TCE. All 3 species showed liver enlargement caused by the exposure. The effect was much more pronounced in mice, in which the increase was 60--80%, than in rats and gerbils where it was only 20--30%. After the end of the TCE-exposure the liver weights of the mice decreased rapidly. After 5 days of rehabilitation the weight was only 10--20% higher than that of the controls. This difference persisted for at least 25 days. The spleen weight appeared unaffected or somewhat smaller in TCE-exposed animals of all species. An increased kidney weight (15%) was observe din TCE-exposed gerbils. This effect was less pronounced in mice and rats. Effects on the liver have earlier been seen only after exposure to concentrations much higher than that used in the present study. This difference in results is proposed to be due to the different schedules used for the exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Irreversible effects of trichloroethylene exposure on the central nervous system.

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones Unguiculatus) were continuously exposed to 320 ppm (1.72 g/m3) of trichloroethylene (TCE) for nine months. During this period the spatial memory of the animals was tested. No major differences were found between the TCE group and the air-exposed control group. Eleven days after the end of TCE exposure, the animals were again tested. Every second day during this test, they were exposed to 2,300 ppm (12.6 g/m3) of 1,1,1-trichloroethane for 6 h. It was found that, on days when exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane, the animals previously exposed to TCE made more correct choices in the maze than on days when not exposed, whereas the control group made less. This test was repeated 75 d after the end of TCE exposure. The results were predominantly the same as 11 d after TCE exposure. The results are interpreted as showing that irreversible effects on the central nervous system are caused by exposure to 320 ppm (1.72 g/m3) of TCE during nine months. The effects cannot be directly observed as changes in the behavior of the animals but can be revealed in almost every single animal by treatment with 1,1,1 trichloroethane. The possibility that covert toxicologic effects might exist in humans exposed to volatile solvents and that the effects may be unmasked by alcohol, stress, or age is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of long-term exposure to trichloroethylene on the behavior of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Two groups of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were continuously exposed to 150 ppm trichloroethylene (TCE) for 71 and 106 d, respectively. The behavior of the animals was tested in a symmetrical maze baited with sunflower seeds during a period of 23 d, beginning at the end of exposure. One additional group was exposed for 150 d and then allowed 40 d free from exposure before the start of the maze test. Comparisons between the TCE- and air-exposed animals showed differences in the number of correct choices and the number of seeds consumed in the maze, both after 71 and 106 d of exposure and at the end of the 40-d rehabilitation period that followed the 150-d exposure. The results were interpreted in terms of the "emotionality" of the animals.

Animals↗